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One of the most unusual and demanding ongoing fund raising events is Peak a Week. Rowan Purrett, aged eleven, lives on Skye. He is a keen walker and has committed to raise money for Karibuni Children by climbing 79 Scottish peaks in 79 weeks.

“Yesterday I completed Peak 17 (which was my first peak in 2018). It is called Ben Aslak, in South Skye near Kylerhea and just counted as a Graham being 610m high… Ben Aslak was my favourite peak so far, mainly because it was so snowy. It was well below freezing and I think the wind chill was probably about minus 12 degrees C! Crampons could have been useful because the snow was quite icy in places, but this was good fun as we had to kick our feet through the ice layers to climb up.”

Tusaidie Watoto was started by the small Methodist Church in Kibra when the four small rooms they were letting to families as homes became vacant. The 4 rooms became 2 classrooms and they started in 1997 with 20 children from the Kibra slum. As the numbers grew, the church became the baby class. All the rooms are temporary mud buildings and there is a small play area which is now paved. The provision of water at the project has been improved and drinking water separated from washing up and hand washing. However, high prices have to be paid for clean water from local entrepreneurs and the supply is vulnerable! A school in the UK has raised money for an extra water tank to safeguard the provision of water for cooking and drinking.

In 2016 the nearby railway line was scheduled for widening and one third of the compound and church have been requisitioned by the Government. They lost their pit latrines and much more.

The children live in the Kibra shanty slum which is reputed to be the largest and worst of all the slums in Africa, where thousands of people live in 9 square miles without any basic amenities. Half of those aged 15 – 40 years living in the slum are said to be HIV positive and there are many orphans. Some of the children have parents or guardians who do their best for their children, but are so poor that they cannot educate them and this is when children turn to the streets to survive. Others have unstable or inadequate parents and come to the nursery in a state of gross neglect. Some have a lone parent, or disabled parents, and some live with an older sibling who may be as young as 12, or elderly unsupported grandmothers.

Karibuni supports 51 children in the nursery, 136 children at local primary schools, 58 children at secondary school, and now 4 at university, 5 in college and 1 in vocational training – a total of 255 children. The nursery children have porridge in the morning and lunch every day; the primary children go to the nursery for lunch Monday – Friday. There are 9 full-time members of staff – a social worker, teachers, cooks, caretaker and security guard.

“I am Wycliffe Odhiambo, one of the beneficiaries of the project. I joined back in 1998 when it had just begun, from pre-school to tertiary level, I graduated from the Technical University of Kenya with a Diploma in Community and Public Health in 2016 and got an opportunity to work with the Hospital Support Organisation in the same year under the ImPACT AFRICA PROGRAM as a Research Assistant Western Kenya Region, managing 10 health facilities on the global perioperative study assessing outcomes of perioperative and anaesthesia care….

I want to let you know how much I appreciate your support throughout my studies… Growing up in the slum was one of the worst things that anyone would ever wish due to its harsh environment, but through KARIBUNI I got the courage to move on step by step hoping that one day I would have a brighter future.

KARIBUNI has impacted on so many lives… at times the only meal that kept me moving was from the project; my parents could barely afford our daily meals….

I would also not forget to thank Makena Anampiu the senior social worker at the Kibra project. I sincerely appreciate the time she spent reviewing my career goals and (how) best to achieve them…… she never lost hope in me

even when I did not have hope in myself.

I had much to say but with the few words I say thank you.”

Other graduates include Eric from Kibra, who has gained a position with international auditors KPMG, Sarah from Tharaka who is a Clinical Officer working in a clinic; and Philip also from Tharaka who works for the water authorities there.

Eight-year-old twins, Grace and Glory, are just two of the many children being cared for by the Meru Township Project. We first became aware of them in February 2017 when members of the Working Party visited their home. Their father had just died from TB (their mother separated from the family when the twins were just 8 months old) and they were living alone, looking after themselves, and just about to walk a long way back to school so they could wash their own school uniforms (no running water where they live).

A month later, during the Trustees annual visit to the project, we saw them again, this time at lunch, helping to feed another younger child at the project.

Luckily they are being supported by the project, under the umbrella of the social worker, Mercy, who is overseeing appropriate care arrangements for them. Initially their compassionate neighbour was looking after them and she was receiving assistance from the girls’ extended family, together with concerned well- wishers and the community who visited the family and gave food and financial support. Mercy liaised with the District Children’s Officer and the family about the girls’ future, with a view to them possibly being placed in a children’s home.

However, the latest news is that the girls are doing fine. With the combined help of Mercy, the Children’s Officer and relatives, they have been reunited with their estranged mother who has agreed to look after them provided she gets some support. Food and clothing have been donated to the family and, in addition, using contributions from relatives and well -wishers the girls’ mother has been able to start a small business in town.

Karibuni feel very lucky to have someone like Mercy working with us. Meeting their mother was yet another challenge for the girls as they did not know her at all on account of her leaving them at such a young age. But Mercy will continue to monitor and provide counselling to the girls and they will continue to be regarded as children of the project with support in their schooling from Karibuni.

When the Trustees visit Kenya they often find quite unexpected situations like this and have to take on the spot decisions on how to help in obviously deserving cases.

“I am Wycliffe Odhiambo, one of the beneficiaries of the project. I joined back in 1998 when it had just begun, from pre-school to tertiary level, I graduated from the Technical University of Kenya with a Diploma in Community and Public Health in 2016 and got an opportunity to work with the Hospital Support Organisation in the same year under the ImPACT AFRICA PROGRAM as a Research Assistant Western Kenya Region, managing 10 health facilities on the global perioperative study assessing outcomes of perioperative and anaesthesia care….
I want to let you know how much I appreciate your support throughout my studies… Growing up in the slum was one of the worst things that anyone would ever wish due to its harsh environment, but through KARIBUNI I got the courage to move on step by step hoping that one day I would have a brighter future.
KARIBUNI has impacted on so many lives… at times the only meal that kept me moving was from the project; my parents could barely afford our daily meals….
I would also not forget to thank Makena Anampiu the senior social worker at the Kibra project. I sincerely appreciate the time she spent reviewing my career goals and (how) best to achieve them…… she never lost hope in me
even when I did not have hope in myself.
I had much to say but with the few words I say thank you.”

Other graduates include Eric from Kibra, who has gained a position with international auditors KPMG, Sarah from Tharaka who is a Clinical Officer working in a clinic; and Philip also from Tharaka who works for the water authorities there.

Walter Onyango, from Kawangware, graduating from university with a degree in Business Management, (Purchasing and Supply).

Our trustee and co-founder Joy Murphy suffered a stroke in January 2017. just weeks before she was expecting to accompany our work party out to Kenya. After the disappointment of missing that trip, Joy was determined to make a visit to Kenya as soon as she could. Here’s her account of her recovery and trip later in the year:

In January I sat in my hospital bed not sure I’d ever make it to Kenya again. I’d made all the arrangements for a Karibuni Work Party to visit the projects in February, and I was unable to go! When the plane took off in February, with eleven instead of twelve people, I actually sat in the hospital bed and cried!

The doctors said I must set some aims to aid my recovery – get me walking and swallowing again. I didn’t need to think long – my short term aim was to have a cup of tea, (I longed to be able to join the other patients with a ‘cuppa’) and my long term aim was to visit Kenya this year!

So started the work toward achieving these aims which culminated in me going to Kenya in September for a month, and visiting all the projects Karibuni supports. My aim here was threefold – to see my many friends in Kenya; to thank the numerous Kenyans who had been praying for my recovery and to thank them for all their love and thoughts; and to demonstrate that I was better.

The visit didn’t start too well! My hostess for the first week had suddenly gone abroad for surgery and forgotten to ask her daughter to meet me at the airport, as had been arranged! So there I was sitting all alone on a broken bench outside the airport with three very heavy suitcases in the pitch dark! However, Joshua Katungu was my knight in shining taxi, and he took me to my host’s home, where they had hurriedly got my room ready!

During that week I visited the Conference Office where I gained my new name of ‘walking miracle’ – very hard to live up to – and then Kibra, Kawangware, Embakasi (where I admired the handiwork of the work party) and Limuru. I was thoroughly spoilt and was driven and accompanied by the Conference Internal Auditor, Timothy Mithieu. He was amazing – really kind and great company. He took good care of me, especially as I was mobbed on several occasions by enthusiastic children all wanting to hold my hands at one time.

From Limuru I was taken to Nakuru to stay with my friend, Meg, and her family. Sunday was my first 4 hour-plus service this year – a Circuit Service with presentations from each church and their junior churches – 20 choirs in all! The service culminated in a harambee (fundraiser) to raise money to build a primary school at Wesley Empowerment Centre, Njoro – a big surprise to me, especially as I had to get up and speak to the congregation twice! They raised over Kes 300,000 – enough to build class 1 by January 2018. The aim is to build a classroom each year until it’s a complete school of 8 classrooms.

Joy being greeted by everyone in the top nursery class at Kawangware

The following day I visited Wesley Empowerment Centre and saw the staff and children (and admired the handiwork of the other half of the work party). This day I was accompanied by the superintendent minister of the circuit and the chair of the project Board, so was very honoured!

Then on to Kaaga in Meru where I stayed for 9 days with my very dear friend, Eunice and her family. Sadly Eunice’s and Justus’s second son had died just 6 weeks before I arrived from cerebral malaria, leaving his wife and two small sons, and we spent a lot of time sharing together. This was doubly tragic as their eldest son had died 6 years ago from viral pneumonia leaving his wife and a small daughter. Their remaining son is a great comfort to them all.

While here I visited the Township Programme, meeting Mercy, the social worker, for the first time and quickly learning how very good she is. Later, I was given gifts by parents of the children we support – a hat (with JOY in large Kenya flag coloured letters embroidered across the front) and a beaded bag made by one of the mothers, both of which I had to model! Having met the children at the feeding programme – including Grace and Glory, twins who met the work party in February – I went with Mercy on a matatu to visit Maureen Nkatha in a church sponsored hospital in Nkubu, as all the government hospitals are closed due to the nurses being on strike for the last 5 months. Maureen was in the last stages of AIDS and being terribly neglected – the hospital had discharged her as they could do no more for her, but she had to remain in the hospital until her fees were paid. Her grandparents, frail and old themselves, wouldn’t have her back again – and even wished she would die, so she was just left untreated in bed.

Her food for several days was left in bowls on and near her bed as she was too weak to feed herself, she was incontinent and left as she was. We did manage to speak to a doctor who told us that needing expert nursing care, including feeding and changing, was not a reason for being in hospital. At least, following our visit, they restarted the ARV drugs and re-admitted her! Mercy planned to take her home, rent a bigger house and care for her with some help. I strongly advised her not to as she didn’t realise the implications and commitment involved.

While at Kaaga I also visited Mwithumwiru School, met the wonderful cook who provides the lunches we help to support, the special needs class – and had another gift – a half-size bath mat they had made.

Then a visit to Maua Hospital where I visited three schools for special needs children – heart breaking – we must make sure they are given a bigger share of the gifts we take out, their situations are pathetic.

Ruth, my daughter-in-law, joined me at Kaaga with George from Lindbergs, and we went straight to Marimanti and the Baobab Hotel. The next morning we were joined by George Mwabu, the Director of the project there. Here we were given a tour of the project model farm, where carers of the children have practical training in farming and growing suitable crops in that very hot, arid climate. Ruth, a horticulturalist, was in her element, although she will be growing very few of the crops they produce – sugar cane, white maize, cassava, etc.

We visited the special needs class, leaving gifts for them, and then the School for the Deaf where we were very warmly welcomed. By special request I had to sing again the chorus John and I had shared with them last year – ‘The Foolish Man built his house upon the Sand’ – which they joined in with sign language. What a privilege!

Coffee time with Sylvia, Johnson (the social worker) and the minister, Phineas

Then back to Nairobi for a night before we caught (just) the new SGR train to Mombasa! How we caught the train I don’t know – I was pushed into carriage 6 and unbeknown to me. Ruth and all the luggage, including the case for the projects, was pushed into carriage 4. We finally met up again in carriage 2 where we had to negotiate sitting together with a couple of Kenyans. The journey took 4½ hours in daylight, instead of the 12 hour overnight journey, and as we went through the Nairobi National Park and Tsavo East and West Safari parks, we saw giraffes, elephants, Thompson’s gazelles and camels – brilliant!

We had a night in a hotel before visiting Hunajeza for a few hours, leaving half the lovely dresses, skirts and shorts made by the ‘Sewing Box’ sewing group in Princes Risborough. This project is struggling as the carers and women’s group members who used to volunteer at the programme, are becoming very elderly and frail. They now have to pay the cook to feed the children, and the two teachers at the nursery they have started.

From there we went to Kilifi and visited Upendo where the school and care given continue to be excellent under the new management. The other half of the dresses, skirts and shorts from Princes Risborough were distributed. We visited some families and after lunch left for our short holiday – two nights by the beach at Jumuia, a Kenyan churches conference and holiday centre.

The loving and enthusiastic welcome I received everywhere was incredible and very humbling. No wonder I love going to Kenya.

Note: Since returning home and writing this we have heard that dear Maureen has died from meningitis, another opportunistic infection she caught due to her very low immunity caused by Aids.

Also since returning, the second Presidential election has taken place amid tension, rioting and bloodshed, especially in Kawangware and Kibra where we support two very active projects. Please pray for the people of Kenya and especially the staff, children and their carer

Come along and browse our Christmas Gift Shop for a variety of presents and cards, from a range of prices starting at £4. Plus stop for tea and cake whilst you shop. It’s the perfect way to start your Christmas shopping!

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About us

Karibuni Children started in 1995 with Corinne Murphy, who as a teenager had spent some time in Kenya, opening a bank account with £2.56. She had been inspired to do something about the children she had seen living in the slums and on the streets of Kenya.
Since then Karibuni has given practical hope to hundreds of needy children, supporting projects based in some of the most deprived areas in Kenya.
We support projects which are run in Kenya by Kenyans, providing food, medical care, clothing, education and when necessary a home, all in a loving environment.